On February 19, 2019, MNC President Chartier spoke by videoconference to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage that is studying Bill C-91, An Act respecting Indigenous Languages. The Métis Nation supports the legislation that was introduced in the House of Commons on February 5 and the effect it will have on the protection and promotion of the Michif language, the national language of the Métis people and Nation. The legislation was co-developed by Canada, the Métis Nation and First Nations.
The following videos capture President Chartier’s opening remarks to the Committee and the follow-up Q&A session.
Part 1: Opening remarks
Part 2: Q & A
President Chartier corrected Heritage Committee member Georgina Jolibois (MP) who identified two historic Métis communities in her constituency in northwestern Saskatchewan, Isle a la Crosse and La Loche, as Cree and Dene communities respectively. Census 2016 data shows the Métis composing 75% of the population of Isle a la Crosse and close to 50% of the population of La Loche (see exchange in video)